The representation and translation of identities in multilingual TV series: Jane the Virgin, a case in point

Abstract

This article discusses the complex relationship between multilingualism, translation and character portrayal in television series. In recent decades, cinema and TV have begun to include linguistic diversity in their productions in an attempt to pursue realism and to represent multilingual realities. TV series, which have become very popular with American and European audiences, increasingly display characters who speak more than one language or who use mixed language variants. Focusing on the TV series Jane the Virgin, this article explores the different forms and functions of multilingualism in the original version and analyses the translation strategies adopted in the Italian dubbed version, in order to verify whether multilingual discourse practices are maintained, adapted or neutralised and to consider the effects of such strategies on character portrayal.